Hearts and the red, white, and blue too!
Embedded in the month of hearts, flowers, and chocolate is a lesser celebrated national holiday recognizing our United States Presidents. While just the mention of the presidency can spark discussion, discourse, and debate, it should also remind us that we live in a country where we can do just that- at the top of our lungs if desired! While the original day was a recognition of our Founding Father, George Washington and the Emancipator himself, Abraham Lincoln- both with February birthdays-it has become more about the acknowledgement of the importance of leadership in all we do. Leadership is the bellwether in the success of everything from team sports victories to détente on the highest international level. Indulge me a few moments as you reflect on aspects of leadership by past presidents. Let us take time this month to honor democracy and how best we can help “perpetuate democracy by educating an informed citizenry” T. Jefferson
Here’s to hearts and the Red White & Blue, too!
George Washington: “99% of failures come from people who make excuses.” John Adams: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader”
Thomas Jefferson: “Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching.”
John Quincy Adams: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
Andrew Jackson: “Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error.”
Martin Van Buren: “It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn’t.”
Abraham Lincoln: “Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today.” Theodore Roosevelt: “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt: “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today”
Harry S. Truman: “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower: “By leadership we mean the art of getting someone else to do something that you want done because he wants to do it, not because your position of power can compel him to do it.”
John F. Kennedy: “Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.”
Gerald R. Ford: “Never be satisfied with less than your very best effort. If you strive for the top and miss, you’ll still ‘beat the pack.'”
William J. Clinton: “If you live long enough, you’ll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you’ll be a better person. It’s how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit.”
Barack Obama: “Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time.”
Donald Trump: “Leaders, true leaders, take responsibility for the success of the team, and understand that they must also take responsibility for the failure.”